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Persian Literature, Ancient and Modern

Chapter 3: PRONUNCIATION.
By Elizabeth A. Reed
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About This Book

The volume traces Persian literary development from earliest cuneiform tablets and shared Mesopotamian myths through Zoroastrian scripture and its teachings, to the arrival of Islamic scripture and the literary changes that followed. It examines epic and lyrical poetry, major narratives and romances, collections of moral tales and fables, manuscript tradition and art, and critical discussions of language, manuscripts, and religious texts. Organized chronologically into divisions covering mythology, the Zend-Avesta, the Qur'an era, and the post-conquest flowering of Persian verse, it combines historical outline, textual analysis, and summaries of representative works and themes.

PRONUNCIATION.

A little attention to the diacritical points will enable the reader to readily pronounce the proper names in Persian literature.

These points, however, have been largely omitted in the foot-notes, the system of pronunciation being fully indicated in the body of the book.

A—a is pronounced as in rural.
Ā—ā ”         ” tar, father, etc.
I—i ”         ” fill.
Ī—ī ”         ” police.
U—u ”         ” full.
Ū—ū ”         ” rude.
Ṛi—ṛi ”         ” merrily.
Ṛī—ṛī ”         ” marine.
Ṉ—ṉ ”         ” like n in the French mon.
Ṇ—ṇ ”         ” none (ṇuṇ).
Ḥ—ḥ is a distinct aspirate.
Kh—kh sounded like ch in church.
Kh—kh pronounced as in inkhorn.
Ć—ć ”         ” as ch in church.
Ćh—ćh ”         ” churchhill.
Ṭ—ṭ ”         ” true
Ṭh—ṭh ”         ” anthill.
Ḍ—ḍ ”         ” drum.
Ḍh—ḍh ”         ” red haired.
Ś—ś ”         ” sure.

Fac Simile of a Portion of a Page of the Oldest Zend Manuscript.
(See Page 117.

PERSIAN LITERATURE.